Australia requires a vast transport network, and the cost of building and maintaining this infrastructure is very high. During 2000 the value of public and private sector engineering construction was $5,490m on roads, highways and subdivisions; $366m on bridges; $649m on railways; $147m on harbours and $366m on pipelines. Major projects under way in 2001 include a rail link to Darwin and the strengthening or replacing of many road bridges on major freight routes to allow for heavier freight-carrying vehicles.

Length of the road system

Table 23.25 shows the map lengths of Australian roads. Although most States and Territories upgrade some of their roads each year, all except the ACT continue to have more kilometres of roads of gravel, crushed stone or other improved surface than kilometres of bitumen or concrete. South Australia has the lowest percentage of bitumen or concrete roads to total roads at 28.6%.

23.25 LENGTHS OF ROADS OPEN FOR GENERAL TRAFFIC, By Road Surface and State/Territory - At 30 June 2001

Surface of roads

Units

NSW(a)(b)

Vic.(c)

Qld

SA

WA(d)

Tas.(e)

NT(f)

ACT

Bitumen or concrete

km

89,559

75,320

68,076

27,714

49,097

10,311

6,431

2,537

Gravel, crushed stone or other improved surface

km

92,278

53,630

51,741

41,228

55,911

(g)12,945

6,570

133

Formed only

km

(h)

26,650

43,235

18,615

29,002

700

7,633

-

Cleared only

km

n.a.

(i)

15,244

9,205

13,779

(i)

751

-

Total

km

181,837

155,600

178,295

96,762

147,789

23,956

21,385

2,670

Percentage of total surface with bitumen or concrete

%

49.3

48.4

38.2

28.6

33.2

43.0

30.1

95.0

(a) Excludes Lord Howe Island, forestry controlled roads or crown roads.(b) Road length is defined as route (end-to-end) length plus ramps, connections, additional carriageways, etc. All reported lengths include roads, bridges and ferry route lengths.(c) Excludes roads coming under the responsibility of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Excludes service roads previously reported. Includes Vic Roads declared roads as at June 2001 and unclassified roads as at June 2000.(d) Excludes approximately 25,300 kilometres of forestry roads. (e) Includes an estimate for forestry roads. (f) Excludes roads not managed by the Northern Territory Government. (g) Includes local government roads in Formed only and Cleared only categories. (h) Included in gravel, crushed stone or other improved surface. (i) Included with Formed only.

Source: Derived mainly from Road and Traffic Authorities and local government sources in each State and Territory.

Rail network

Table 23.26 shows the diversity of track gauge in Australia, reflecting the historical development of State infrastructure. It also reflects private development, such as the 4,150 route-kilometres of narrow gauge associated with the Queensland sugar industry. Competition reform and government policy to allow open access have resulted in private companies offering freight and passenger services over government-owned track.

At 14 June 2001, there were 281 licensed airports in Australia and its external territories. Of these, ten were operating as international airports servicing scheduled international airlines (see table 23.18). The majority of licensed airports are owned and operated by local councils, State government departments and private companies. The remaining airports are owned and operated by the Department of Defence or leased by the Commonwealth to private sector companies or government corporations.